Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche is pressing for a new striker in the January window, with owner Evangelos Marinakis aligned on that priority as the club try to pull further away from the Premier League relegation battle after moving seven points clear with a 2-1 win against West Ham.
That victory, secured by Nicolas Dominguez and a late Morgan Gibbs-White penalty, ended a run of four league defeats but did not change Dyche’s assessment that Forest lack reliable firepower, especially with Chris Wood recovering from knee surgery and other forwards struggling to finish chances consistently.
Forest’s attacking output underlines Dyche’s concern, as the team have scored only 21 Premier League goals this season, with only Burnley worse on 20, while
Gibbs-White leads the club with five league goals despite being a creator rather than a central striker.
The recognised forwards have offered limited returns in top-flight action, with Igor Jesus producing just one goal in 20 league appearances, Taiwo Awoniyi yet to score in seven league games, and Chris Wood on two goals from eight matches before surgery interrupted Wood’s season.
To underline the gap in attacking influence, Dyche is considering how another addition up front might change the balance of the side, as Forest look to maintain distance from the bottom three and avoid slipping back into the relegation conversation during a demanding Premier League schedule.
Arnaud Kalimuendo, who joined from Rennes in the previous transfer window, has barely featured in the Premier League, with only 89 minutes of action this campaign, and Dyche expects the 23-year-old to join Eintracht Frankfurt on loan in a move described as financially positive for Nottingham Forest.
Such an outgoing deal could create room for fresh signings, with Wolves’ Jorgen Strand Larsen reported among potential striking options as Forest explore targets that fit both the club’s trading model and Dyche’s tactical requirements for the remainder of the Premier League season.
When I got here, the trading model and the nature of the club was made clear. We're waiting on that situation. We're obviously into other situations, I would hope that's apparent,said Dyche in his press conference ahead Friday's FA Cup clash away to Wrexham.
Premier League Nottingham Forest striker market talks and internal alignment
I have made it clear and the owner has made it clear to me he will support the situation. We still need the right players at the right time, and that was a deal the club has done, which they felt is a very good one for the club, so they are looking at that now.
The club have been very open with me and my staff. I don't know how its been previously, but they have spoken to us about what we think. We have got lots of games in the Premier League under our belts, not just me but my staff as well,Dycheadded.
They have been very open on the scouting side. We've had meetings with the scouting units and the analysis units to talk about players, and that has been ongoing for the last couple of months.
You can be as optimistic as you want but until the pen is on the paper and it is done then you never know. But there are certainly ongoing conversations about the situations, that's for sure.
Forest’s need for a Premier League-ready striker is sharpened by injury issues, current goal numbers and the chance to reshape the attacking unit through Kalimuendo’s likely loan and new arrivals, leaving Dyche and Marinakis aligned on a clear objective for the remainder of the January window.
| Nottingham Forest player | Premier League appearances 2025-26 | Premier League goals 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Igor Jesus | 20 | 1 |
| Taiwo Awoniyi | 7 | 0 |
| Chris Wood | 8 | 2 |
| Morgan Gibbs-White | - | 5 |
Forest’s recent comeback against West Ham highlighted resilience but also reinforced why Dyche is pushing for another forward option, as the club look to protect their seven-point cushion above the relegation places and convert board support, scouting work and transfer talks into a Premier League-ready striker before the window closes.
A crucial second half turnaround for @NFFC! pic.twitter.com/UET3eCGDnvPremier League (@premierleague) January 7, 2026
